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    Home » In the Kitchen

    Chocolate Chili with Bison: An Indigenous Food Experience and Free Printable

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    Child slicing bell pepper with knife and cutting board

    "Chocolate has a long sacred history in Indigenous recipes beginning with the Mayans, Aztecs, and other communities of the Yucatán Peninsula, where cacao beans have always grown wild. Cacao has been integral to Indigenous ceremony and cuisine - from drinks to mole sauces and spice rubs."

    - Chef Freddie Bitsoie

    Have you ever thought about what it would taste like to combine a hearty home-cooked chili with a sweet, chocolate dessert? Well, I had never. But now, as I sit here enjoying this chocolate chili, I wish I had thought about it sooner.

    Learn more about cooking with kids.

    Contents hide
    1 What is Chocolate Chili with Bison?
    2 Is Bison the Same as Buffalo?
    3 How Long Should You Cook Chocolate Chili with Bison?
    4 Chocolate Chili with Bison: An Indigenous Food Experience
    4.1 Ingredients
    4.2 1. Prep the Onion, Garlic, and Bell Pepper
    4.3 2. Gather the Ingredients and Head to the Stove
    4.3.1 Family & Kids' Cooking Resources
    4.4 3. Turn On the Stove and Add Oil
    4.5 4. Add Onion, Garlic, Bell Pepper, Thyme, and Bay Leaf
    4.6 5. Stir it all Together
    4.7 6. Add the Bison, Salt, and Pepper for Making Chocolate Chili
    4.8 7. Add Tomato Paste, Cumin, Coriander, Paprika, Cayenne, and Diced Tomatoes
    4.9 8. Add the Beans and Stock
    4.10 9. Turn the Heat Up to a Boil
    4.11 10. Add Chocolate and Let Simmer
    4.12 11. Remove the Thyme and Bay Leaf & Enjoy
    5 Conclusion for Chocolate Chili with Bison
    6 Free Chocolate Chili Recipe for Pre-Readers and Up
    6.1 Montessori Continent Boxes
    7 More Native American Educational Resources
    8 More In the Kitchen
    9 Chocolate Chili with Bison: An Indigenous Food Experience
    9.1 Equipment
    9.2 Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1x2x3x
    9.3 Instructions
    9.4 Notes
    9.5 Nutrition

    Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Amazon links are not affiliate links. You can read my full affiliate disclosure.

    Cover of New Native Kitchen cookbook

    This chocolate chili with bison recipe is one of many delicious recipes from New Native Kitchen.

    It's savory. But sweet. It's dinner. And dessert?? Could be. The cookbook is part of our collection of books by Indigenous authors and we really appreciate all the opportunities to dive deeper into the subject matter while we make our way through modern recipes, such as this chocolate bison chili, that honor traditional Native American food.

    We're getting lots of practical life experience in the kitchen mixed with history, science, culture, conservation, delicious dishes, and more.

    As we try out recipes and read through this book, we're learning about North America, Indigenous cultures, Native American cuisine, wildlife, and even some lesser-known ingredients.

    We like it so much, we've included free printable recipe cards with pictures for pre-readers on up. It's waiting for you at the end of this post or you can use the table of contents above.

    What is Chocolate Chili with Bison?

    Chocolate chili is a stew that combines chili (beans, peppers, tomatoes, etc.) with chocolate and includes ground bison. Chocolate can come from several forms, such as cocoa powder or chocolate chips. This recipe calls for semisweet chocolate chips.

    Lily's no-sugar-added semi-sweet style baking chips are a healthy alternative to regular semisweet chocolate chips. They are sweetened with Stevia.

    Is Bison the Same as Buffalo?

    No, bison and buffalo are different. While both are members of the Bovidae family, bison and buffalo are not the same. In fact, they are located in different parts of the world and also have differences in their appearance. Learn more about bison, buffalo, and tatanka.

    You can find more information in the cookbook, in addition to a really helpful chart comparing beef vs. bison and which is better.

    How Long Should You Cook Chocolate Chili with Bison?

    That depends on how you like your chili. We cooked ours for an hour total until it reached the desired consistency. However, you may find you need more or less depending on how thick you like it.

    Chocolate Chili with Bison: An Indigenous Food Experience

    This chocolate chili recipe is absolutely delicious, it's great for busy families, and it's easy enough for kids to make. It also offers plenty of opportunities to extend the learning. Be sure to grab your free printable recipe and free printable cards with pictures down below.

    If you like this recipe, be sure to check out this three sisters bean stew and this stewed rabbit recipe.

    labeled ingredients for chocolate chili with bison

    Ingredients

    • Avocado Oil
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Bell Pepper
    • Thyme
    • Bay Leaf
    • Ground Bison
    • Salt
    • Black Pepper
    • Tomato Paste
    • Ground Cumin
    • Ground Coriander
    • Paprika
    • Cayenne Pepper
    • Diced Tomatoes
    • Kidney Beans
    • Bison or Beef Stock
    • Semisweet Chocolate Chips

    Our local grocery store was out of Lily's chocolate chips so we went for the traditional semi-sweet chocolate chips.

    a child examining a bell pepper

    1. Prep the Onion, Garlic, and Bell Pepper

    Using a cutting board and knife, chop the onion, dice the bell pepper, and mince the garlic. We used already minced garlic in oil.

    If you like peppers, you should try aloo chaat.

    the inside of a bell pepper

    Our kids love chopping up ingredients during meal prep. This bell pepper was a lot of fun as we talked about the anatomy of a pepper, including the stem, calyx, seeds, and locules.

    We compared our pepper to the illustrations in Farm Anatomy and Food Anatomy. Afterwards, we looked at different varieties of peppers and the heat associated with each one.

    Child slicing bell pepper with knife and cutting board
    a child looking at a picture of an American Bison in a cookbook

    2. Gather the Ingredients and Head to the Stove

    Grab all the ingredients and head to the stove. Don't forget the cookbook, if you have it. Lots of great opportunities for learning between recipe steps.

    We read The American Bison section of the cookbook to learn more about these giant land animals. You can find lots of great info about bison, including their history as well as conservation and restoration efforts, inside the cookbook.

    For another great recipe from this same cookbook, try this bread pudding.

    Covers of New Native Kitchen and The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen cookbooks

    Family & Kids' Cooking Resources

    Beautiful & diverse cooking resources for you!

    Shop Now

    3. Turn On the Stove and Add Oil

    Turn the stove on medium heat and add the oil.

    child adding onion to dutch oven for making chocolate chili

    4. Add Onion, Garlic, Bell Pepper, Thyme, and Bay Leaf

    When the dutch oven and oil are hot, add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, thyme, and bay leaf.

    kids adding bay leaf and stirring ingredients in a dutch oven

    This is a good time to talk about the plan for the thyme sprigs (if you used them) and bay leaf.

    Our kids think it's really cool that you take out the thyme sprigs and bay leaf when everything is cooked. At various points during this experience, they decided to look and see if they could find the bay leaf hidden amongst the ingredients.

    This savory cabbage pie combines cooking and baking skills.

    stirring ingredients for making chocolate chili

    5. Stir it all Together

    Stir it all together with a spoon. Sauté for 5 minutes or until the mixture is soft.

    child stirring ingredients and child exiting a learning tower

    6. Add the Bison, Salt, and Pepper for Making Chocolate Chili

    Add the bison, salt, and pepper to the dutch oven. Use a wooden spoon to break it up and sear the meat. Cook for 8 minutes. Wash your hands.

    At this point, our son ducked out of the learning tower to wash his hands after handling the meat. They can hop in and out of the learning tower really easily and I like that it provides a sturdy platform to stand on. This way, they can focus their attention on the stove and not their feet.

    children smiling and looking at tomato paste on fingers

    7. Add Tomato Paste, Cumin, Coriander, Paprika, Cayenne, and Diced Tomatoes

    Using measuring spoons as needed, add tomato paste, cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, and diced tomatoes. The tomato paste should brown but not burn.

    This is also when our kids get creative with tomato paste and storytelling as they tell me they cut their fingers.

    child measuring seasoning with a measuring spoon

    Our kids love using measuring spoons. Sometimes they use the leveler that comes with it, and sometimes they prefer their fingers. Our kids are comfortable handling various spices and peppers but you can always assist your child as needed.

    kids adding diced tomatoes to a dutch oven for making chocolate chili

    Deglaze the bottom of the dutch oven with the juice of the diced tomatoes. In other words, the juice can free up the pieces of food stuck to the bottom of the dutch oven.

    kids adding beef broth to a dutch oven

    8. Add the Beans and Stock

    To make the chocolate chili, add the kidney beans and stock to the dutch oven. If you use a 1 or 2 cup measuring cup as we do, this is a great opportunity for math in practical life. The child works through adding a total of 3 cups of stock to the pot.

    child adjusting stove heat

    9. Turn the Heat Up to a Boil

    We use medium-high heat for this step. Boil for 5 minutes and then reduce heat to low. Be sure to turn the heat down before the beans lose their shape.

    kids eating in a learning tower while waiting for chocolate chili to cook

    10. Add Chocolate and Let Simmer

    Let it simmer uncovered until the chili reduces to a stew consistency. For us, that was about 40 minutes. Give the chocolate chili a good stir occasionally. We ate a few leftover chocolate chips while we waited and explored the cookbook further.

    chocolate chili with bison in a bowl.  the bowl is on a porch railing overlooking a farm.

    11. Remove the Thyme and Bay Leaf & Enjoy

    Turn off the stove. Remove the thyme and bay leaf. Enjoy! We found that being out in nature is a great way to enjoy this incredibly savory and sweet chocolate chili.

    We actually made this on a weeknight and enjoyed it for several days as leftovers.

    New Native Kitchen Cookbook

    Conclusion for Chocolate Chili with Bison

    We hope you enjoyed seeing how we make chocolate bison chili. It's a great meal to make together while learning about Indigenous food. I highly recommend New Native Kitchen for all families, but especially homeschools, as it nurtures a holistic experience with time spent in the kitchen.

    Furthermore, if you've ever stressed about what to make for dinner and dessert on an already busy day with 1, 2, 3, 4, or however many littles you have, drop what you're doing and print. this. chocolate chili recipe. Better yet, buy New Native Kitchen by Chef Freddie Bitsoie and James O. Fraioli. It's filled with beautiful photography and recipes you will want to try with your family.

    Chocolate Chili recipe instruction cards with images

    Free Chocolate Chili Recipe for Pre-Readers and Up

    Don't forget to grab your free printable recipe cards above. Kids can gather ingredients using the ingredient list and prepare the meal using the step-by-step recipe cards, with assistance as needed.

    The cards are easy to use, include pictures, and encourage confidence and independence in the kitchen. They also make an excellent addition to your Montessori continent box for North America.

    Treasures From Jennifer Continent Boxes and Schleich penguin, blue whale, leopard seal, and orca

    Montessori Continent Boxes

    Explore every continent with these solid maple hardwood boxes.

    Shop Now

    More Native American Educational Resources

    • Family and Kids Cooking Resources: Different Food Cultures
    • Teaching Hard History: American Slavery

    More In the Kitchen

    • Ethiopian Sambusas: A Printable Recipe with Pictures
    • Making West African Jollof Rice with Beans
    • Easy South American Food: Bahian Chicken Stew and Free Printable
    • Asian Dumplings
    • Ukrainian Welcome Bread
    • Aussie Barbecue Prawns
    • Antarctic Expedition Food
    • Thumbprint Cookies for Kids
    Child slicing pepper for Chocolate Chili with Bison Indigenous Food

    Chocolate Chili with Bison: An Indigenous Food Experience

    Kristin
    Learn how to make a hearty, home-cooked chocolate chili with bison & grab free printable recipe cards with pictures for this Indigenous food. Perfect for pre-readers and up. Explore history, science, culture, and more while enjoying a modern recipe, such as this chocolate bison chili, that honors traditional Native American food.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Native American
    Servings 8 Servings
    Calories 403 kcal

    Equipment

    • Apron
    • Prep Bowls
    • Oregon Myrtlewood Cutting Board
    • Child-Friendly Knife
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Measuring Cup
    • Dutch Oven
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Learning Tower as needed
    • New Native Kitchen

    Ingredients 
     

    • 1 tablespoon Avocado Oil
    • 1 Yellow Onion large
    • 3 cloves Garlic minced
    • 1 Green Bell Pepper seeded and diced
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Thyme or 3 sprigs fresh
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • 1 lb Ground Bison
    • Salt
    • Black Pepper
    • 1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
    • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
    • 1 teaspoon Ground Coriander
    • 2 teaspoon Paprika
    • ½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
    • 14 oz Diced Tomatoes with Juice
    • 14 oz Kidney Beans
    • 3 cups Bison or Beef Stock
    • 1 ¼ cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips

    Instructions 

    • Prep the onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Using a cutting board and knife, chop the onion, dice the bell pepper, and mince the garlic. Use this as an opportunity to talk about the anatomy of a pepper, including the stem, calyx, seeds, and locules. Compare pepper varieties and the heat associated with each one.
    • Gather the ingredients and head to the stove. Don't forget the cookbook. Lots of great opportunities for learning between recipe steps, including sections on bison.
    • Turn on the stove on medium heat and add oil.
    • When the dutch oven and oil are hot, add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, thyme, and bay leaf. This is a good time to talk about the plan for the thyme sprigs (if you used them) and bay leaf.
    • Stir it all together with a spoon. Sauté for 5 minutes or until the mixture is soft.
    • Add the bison, salt, and pepper to the dutch oven. Use a wooden spoon to break it up and sear the meat. Cook for 8 minutes. Wash your hands.
    • Using measuring spoons as needed, add tomato paste, cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, and diced tomatoes. The tomato paste should brown but not burn. Deglaze the bottom of the dutch oven with the juice of the diced tomatoes. In other words, the juice can free up the pieces of food stuck to the bottom of the dutch oven
    • To make the chocolate chili, add the kidney beans and stock to the dutch oven. If you use a 1 or 2 cup measuring cup as we do, this is a great opportunity for math in practical life. The child works through adding a total of 3 cups of stock to the pot.
    • Turn the heat up to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes and then reduce heat to low. Be sure to turn the heat down before the beans lose their shape.
    • Add chocolate and let simmer uncovered until the chili reduces to a stew consistency. Give the chocolate chili a good stir occasionally.
    • Turn off the stove. Remove the thyme and bay leaf. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Cook to internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
    • See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
    • Full Lesson Info and Pictures at:  https://happyhomeschooladventures.com/chocolate-chili

    Nutrition

    Calories: 403kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 19gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 308mgPotassium: 879mgFiber: 7gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 270IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 6mg

    Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More In the Kitchen

    • Homemade Cinnamon Roll Pound Cake With Black Travel History and Free Printable
    • Picarones: Peruvian Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Donuts with Free Printable
    • Easy South American Food: Xinxim de Galinha, Bahian Chicken Stew and Free Printable
    • Jollof Rice With Beans, Jollof Rice Pẹlu awọn ewa: A Free Printable

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    About Kristin

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